Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Siege of Albracca explained
King Gradasso of Sericane invades France to obtain Orlando's sword Durindana and Rinaldo's horse Bayard.
What happens
King Gradasso of Sericane invades France to obtain Orlando's sword Durindana and Rinaldo's horse Bayard. Charlemagne sends Rinaldo against him, but Malagigi tricks Rinaldo away. Gradasso captures Charlemagne and his peers, then agrees to release them if he receives Bayard and Durindana. Astolpho defends Bayard in single combat, defeats Gradasso with the enchanted lance, and frees the prisoners. Meanwhile, Orlando, seeking Angelica, drinks from the Cup of Oblivion at the bridge and becomes a prisoner. Astolpho, on his way to find Rinaldo, defeats Sacripant and Florismart, but later flees from Orlando. Florismart drinks the cup and is imprisoned. Angelica, escaping the siege of Albracca by Agrican, meets Flordelis and uses her ring to disenchant Orlando and others, then leads them to relieve Albracca.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and the Quest
Multiple knights undertake quests: Astolpho seeks Rinaldo, Orlando pursues Angelica, and Angelica seeks aid for Albracca.
Love and Transformation
Angelica's love for Rinaldo drives Malagigi's trickery; Flordelis's devotion to Florismart leads her to seek Angelica's help.
Hospitality and Its Violation
The Cup of Oblivion at the bridge violates the expected hospitality of travelers, trapping knights in a magical prison.
Characters to notice
- Gradasso
King of Sericane who invades France to seize Durindana and Bayard; later defeated by Astolpho.
- Rinaldo of Montalban
Sent against Gradasso but tricked by Malagigi into leaving the army.
- Astolpho
Defends Bayard, defeats Gradasso with the enchanted lance, then travels to Albracca and is captured by Agrican.
- Orlando
Seeks Angelica, drinks from the Cup of Oblivion, and becomes a prisoner; later disenchanted by Angelica.
- Angelica
Besieged in Albracca by Agrican; escapes with her ring, disenchants Orlando and others, then returns to relieve the citadel.
- Sacripant
King of Circassia, leads an army to aid Galafron; wounded in combat with Agrican, escapes into Albracca.
- Sir Florismart
Lord of the Sylvan Tower, defeated by Astolpho, later drinks the Cup of Oblivion and is imprisoned.
- Flordelis
Florismart's beloved; seeks help from Angelica to rescue her lover.
Key passages
“He was named Gradasso, and his kingdom was called Sericane. Now, as it often happens to the greatest and the richest to long for what they cannot have, and thus to lose what they already possess, this king could not rest content without Durindana, the sword of Orlando, and Bayard, the horse of Rinaldo.”
King Gradasso of Sericane, like many powerful people, coveted what he did not have—Orlando's sword and Rinaldo's horse—and risked losing what he already owned.
Introduces Gradasso's motivation and the theme of overreaching desire.
“Astolpho received with great indignation the message despatched for Bayard, and replied by a herald that 'he would not surrender the horse of his kinsman Rinaldo without a contest. If Gradasso wanted the steed he might come and take him, and that he, Astolpho, was ready to meet him in the field.'”
Astolpho angrily refused to hand over Bayard, challenging Gradasso to fight him for the horse.
Shows Astolpho's boldness and loyalty to his kinsman Rinaldo.
“The enchanted lance, in the hands of Astolpho, performed a new wonder; and Gradasso, the terrible Gradasso, was unhorsed.”
Astolpho's magical lance unhorsed the fearsome Gradasso, securing victory.
Highlights the power of the enchanted lance and Astolpho's unexpected triumph.
“Angelica, accordingly, watching her opportunity and aided by her ring, slipped into the castle unseen, when the door was opened to admit a new victim. Here she speedily disenchanted Orlando and the rest by a touch of her talisman.”
Using her invisibility ring, Angelica entered the castle unnoticed and freed Orlando and the other prisoners with a touch of her magical ring.
Demonstrates Angelica's resourcefulness and the ring's power to break enchantments.
